NS 13: THE LOST SACRAMENT ✅

Chapter 27

Ecclesiastes 9: 9

Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun.

Tahimik ang buong silid. Hinintay ni Aguiluz na may tumawa sa mga kapatid niya matapos niyang idulog ang pinaglilihian ng asawa. Pero
walang nagtangka. Tikhim lang at buntong-hininga ang kanyang narinig.

"I can't believe what kind of blood we have that our offspring is capable of making our head spin like this even when they are inside their mother's freaking womb. Akala ko halik lang ang magpapakulo ng utak ko."  Disperadong nagsalita si Rayven.

Itinuon niya ang mga siko sa ibabaw ng mesa, pinagsalikop ang mga kamay at ipinatong roon ang baba. Sinadya niyang sabihin sa mga kapatid ang problema ngayong may meeting sila dahil naniniwala siya sa kasabihang 'more heads are better than one'. Ilang gabi na siyang walang maayos na tulog dahil sa kaiisip kung saan siya makahahanap ng bulag na pinya o kung mayroong ganoon.

"Your wife must be joking, Alvin. Where the hell did she get the idea of a blind pineapple? In the first place, pineapples can't fucking see." Komento ni Raxiine na naiiling. "Those are not even eyes, for pete's sake."

"Unfortunately, she emphasized a literal blind pineapple. Literal, Rax. Bulag na pinya ang gusto niya. I should find one. She's getting weaker everyday. She can't eat a proper meal. She cried a lot because of the pineapple." Giit niya.

"I can relate the feeling, Alvin," sabi ni Rajive. "I've been there. Those crazy stuff their asking from us somehow must have been products of their imagination. But believe me it is very real for your wife and you have to give her that pineapple she's asking."

"Natatakot na akong mag-asawa. Paano kung hihingin sa akin ng mapapangasawa kong gusto niyang tikman ang araw? Bigti na?" Sumabat si Jerad.

"Tangena!" Napamura si Rayven na parehas din ang inaalala.

Habang si Airey ay tahimik lang. Tapos na rin kasi nitong pagdaanan ang bangungot ng paglilihi.

"Let us figure this out, boys. Wala munang uuwi hangga't wala tayong naiisip." Suhestiyon ni Rajive na nagpaluwag sa dibdib ni Aguiluz.

Half of the entire duration of their meeting was spent brainstorming about the impaired pineapple. He has to get this done with. If there would be a downside of his marriage, it'll never be his failure to provide his wife's needs.

Yet, still, few more minutes sitting there and there was nothing coming through his brain. He prayed silently, asked the assistance of the saints he knew who are champions of miracles. Tatlong bote na ng hard whiskey ang naitumba ng mga kapatid niya.
God! Mukhang uuwi pa rin siyang bigo.

"Walang pumapasok sa utak ko," sabi ni Rayven na nagtagis ng bagang at pinukpok ang mesa.

"Mine is fucking empty," pakli ni Raxiine.

"Nothing in my research too," salo ni Rajive.

"I have an idea, but I'm not sure if this is effective." Finally, Jerad laid his cards.

"I think you have exactly what is on my mind." Kumindat dito si Airey.

"Bring it down," he said in desperation.

PAGULONG-GULONG sa kama si Mimi. Inaantok siya pero hindi siya makatulog. Gutom na naman kasi siya kahit katatapos niya lang kumain. Para siyang may alagang buwaya sa sikmura na hindi mabusog-busog. Nabubugnot siyang bumangon at inabot ang jug ng tubig. Nangalahati ang laman niyon matapos siyang uminom.

Inabot niya ang kanyang cellphone. Kinalikot ang contacts at pinindot ang profile ni Merlou. Kapag ganitong hindi niya matawagan ang asawa dahil alam niyang busy, ang kaibigan ang kinakalampag niya.